Quote:
Originally Posted by jrref
Agreed which is why they should pay the price and have a reputable HVAC company check the system once a year or if they don't want to pay of feel the maintenance is not necessary, they need to know the facts and make the decision that's best for them.
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The cost/benefit analysis of these inspections would be interesting.
- Identifying a failing capacitor that is then replaced could avoid a hot home. On the other hand, having a spare capacitor on-hand and replacing it when the home begins to warm up would be cheaper
- Identifying a coolant leak or failing compressor would provide an opportunity to schedule a replacement before the existing unit fails. On the other hand, how often do these systems fail gradually such that an owner would get a warning?
If I can fix a problem in ten minutes or preemptively replace the capacitor every three years then is it worth $800 (4 years to noticeable degradation @ $200/year) for a possible warning?
If the system is more likely to fail suddenly than to give a warning then is it worth $2,000+ to have someone come and tell me they see nothing wrong?
Of course, peace of mind has a value too.
I have been off and on with inspections over the seven years I've owned here. I'm on the fence right now but a 45% increase will definitely make for an easier decision.